Kukla's Korner Hockey

Monday and Tuesday night games of the first full week of the NHL telecasts on OLN (a.k.a. Outdoor Life Network) scored well, but ratings fell from the opening-night numbers.
The Pittsburgh Penguins-Buffalo Sabres game Monday night averaged 278,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. That compared with 111,336 viewers OLN delivered a year ago.
Tuesday saw a lower rating for the Phoenix Coyotes-Dallas Stars game, 143,438 viewers, double the 70,554 viewers in the same time period last year.
Both ratings are lower than the 353,000 viewers the New York Rangers-Philadelphia Flyers opening-night matchup OLN received October 5.
Hockey bowed to tough competition this week, with a highly touted "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers along with the elimination game of the best-of-five playoff series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Tuesday's game went up against Game 1 of the American League Championship Series between the Angels and Chicago White Sox.